Sport

Ainsworth: We deserved a point

BLUES boss Gareth Ainsworth felt his side did enough to have earned a point against Bristol Rovers this afternoon.

A game of few clear cut chances at either end was settled by Ryan Brunt’s first half goal for the Pirates as Wanderers lost for the second match in succession.

Blues piled on the pressure at the end but had two strong penalty appeals waved away and the Rovers goal survived a mad goalmouth scramble in injury time.

And Ainsworth said: “If there was any justice we’d have poked that one in the net and got away with a draw. I think it probably was a draw today. Both teams battled and cancelled each other out.

“The first penalty shout was a quite a strong one but you don’t always get one. In the scramble at the end we nearly got something.

“There was one lapse of concentration which I wasn’t happy with, with a couple of players involved, and that led to the goal. Apart from that I don’t think Jordan had a save to make, but likewise I don’t think their keeper had a save to make. It was probably a point apiece but it doesn’t always work that way and [Rovers manager] John Ward’s a happier man tonight.

“The lads are gutted they didn’t get a point. They believe they should have had something.”

The Wanderers manager admitted some of his usually reliable players put in below par performances but he said there were plenty of positives to take out of the game as well.

Dean Morgan was rested but put in a fine display when he was introduced from the bench on the hour mark, and his replacement in the starting XI, Jo Kuffour, also impressed with an energetic performance against his old club.

Ainsworth said: “I thought Jo and Matt deserved their chance. Jo Kuffour created a lot of chances for himself, he could have had one.

“Losing 3-0 at home to Bradford was a tough one to take. I thought the lads responded OK.

“First half we bossed the game for 30 minutes, we really did. As soon as they scored we started panicking, doing the wrong things.

“They had the first ten minutes of the second half but after that it was all us.”

He added: “We still need to get a few more points on the board yet and that’s what I’m aiming to get.”